Fleetwood Town 2-1 Dag & Red: Match Report

03 August 2013 06:01

Debut goals from captain Mark Roberts, Jeff Hughes and Ryan Cresswell saw Fleetwood begin the new Sky Bet League Two campaign with a resounding 3-1 victory over Dagenham & Redbridge.

The opener for the hosts came after just five minutes when centre-back Roberts powered a close-range header past a stranded Chris Lewington and into the roof of the net.

Former Notts County midfielder Hughes slammed a low shot into the bottom right-hand corner from the edge of the box to double Fleetwood's lead after just 10 minutes.

But the visitors' arrears were reduced after 26 minutes. Medy Elito latched on to a long defensive clearance before squaring the ball across the six-yard box for former Arsenal trainee Rhys Murphy to tap home from less than a yard out for his first goal in League football.

The second half picked up where the first left off, with another of Fleetwood's new defensive recruits Cresswell powering a header past keeper Lewington.

Substitute Gareth Evans had a late header cleared off the line at the death as the Cod Army threatened a fourth goal.